MP Johana Ng’eno threatens to sue NCIC over hate speech list

Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng'eno. [Robert Kiplagat, Standard]

Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno has threatened to move to court to compel the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to expunge his name from the list after he was mentioned as being among the politicians fanning hate.

Ng’eno who spoke on Thursday rubbished the list claiming that he has never incited anybody and dared the commission to take him to court.

“I’m surprised that NCIC listed me as number two in those in their radar over hate speech. This is assassination of my character and I am assembling my lawyers to face it off with the commission. I want my name removed from the list with immediate effect,” the MP said.  

He reiterated that the NCIC has never summoned him at any time neither have any incitement charges been preferred to him by any court, adding that what he has been doing is just speaking the ‘truth’ boldly.

The outspoken KANU legislator turned-Deputy President William Ruto’s ally quipped that he was surprised that President Uhuru’s name was not in the list despite speaking about tribes during the burial of ANC Leader Musalia Mudavadi’s mother.

He added: “While at Mululu in Kakamega, the president who is supposed to be a symbol of national unity insinuated that two tribes have ruled Kenya since independence and that it was time for other tribes. The NCIC should have summoned him to expound what he meant by that.”

The lawmaker lamented that he was being intimidated for fighting for the rights of disadvantaged members of the society and likened his troubles to those of Daniel in the bible who was thrown into den of lions from telling King Nebuchadnezzar that his reign was coming to an end.

Among those put on the latest NCIC hate speech watch list includeformer Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro and Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati.

The legislator who was accompanied by Ololung’a MCA Jefferson Lang’at vowed to continue speaking his mind as long as freedom of speech is guaranteed in the Kenyan Constitution.

On his part, Mr Lang’at accused the NCIC of double standards in the fight against hate speech claiming that the commission was being used to fight political wars.